Do you ever wonder how surgical outcomes in rural areas compare to surgical outcomes in Metro areas? A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) examined thousands of colon cancer and lung cancer patients who had undergone elective surgery. The mortality and complication rates were similar, whether the patient had surgery in a more rural area or not.

This is pretty cool! It means that when a lung or colon cancer patient is wondering if it would be better to drive further for a surgery, they don’t necessarily have to make what would be a longer drive. They are just as well off going to a closer, more rural hospital.

Oftentimes, those in more rural areas are already at a disadvantage when it comes to access to care. It can be especially difficult when someone does not have access to a car, and is dependent on others for transportation to and from appointments.

This study is potentially very good news to someone undergoing cancer treatment who is requiring surgery and wondering where they should go for their procedure. It gives reassurance that their risk of complications will be similar, whether they take the longer drive to the big city hospital or not.